Dredge head



Jam., l, wx. 1,696,938

G. W. CURTS DREDGE HEAD Filed Sept. 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 1929. l9696,938

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G. W. cum-is DREDGE HEAD Filed sept. 9, '1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @im m of the housing.

Patented dan. 1, 129.

UNEF

GEGRGE W. CURTIS, 01?' MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, SSIG'NR T0 THE TMKEN FULLER BEARING COMPANY, F CANTON, OHO, A CORFORATION 0F OHIO.

DREDGE HEAD.

Application led September 9, 1927. Serial No. 218,463.

My invention relates to dredge heads and the like and particularly to the mounting of the rotary shaft that carries the cutter head; and it has for its principal object a mounting in which the shaft is supported in roller bearings and in which the bearings are entirely protected from water and grit. Dredge heads that operate under water to loosen gravel and t-he like by means of rotary cutters and then remove the gravel to the surface of the water by means of a suction pump' oli'er a very difficult problem in the mounting of the cutter head shaft. llf anti-friction bearings are used, it is very difficult to protect the bearings from water and grit. The present invention consists in providing the ends of the housing in which the shaft is mounted with a plurality of closure disks and with springs for holding them in contact with each other, the closure disks being free to yield to maintain close contact. rlhe invention further consists in the dredge head and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of partshere- \inafter described and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specification and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts Wherever u they occur,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dredge head mechanism embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross nsectional View on the line 2--2 of Figyl;

mounted isdisposed in a housing 2. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the interior of said housing is reduced in diameter at one end 3. Mounted in said housing 2 is a hollow shell 4 that has an enlarged middle portion 5 disposed in the enlarged portion of the interior After the shell 4 has been inserted in the housing 2 a metal ring or spacer 6 is mounted in the end of the housing, forming a reduced bore similar to the reduced bore 3 at the other end of the housing. The

enlarged portion of the shell 4 is preferably convexly curved endwise of the shell so as to permit it to rock in the housing 2. The shell 4 10 that serves as an abutment for the cones 11 or inner bearing members of conical roller bearings. 'The shell 4 is provided With an integral flange 12 at one yend and a ring 13 is threaded into the otherend of said shell to close the same. rlhe cups' 14 or outer bearing members are mounted in the shell abutting against said end ange 12 and said ring 13 respectively. Conical rollers 15 are interposed between the cups 14 and cones 11 and are preferably provided with suitable cages 16.

Sleeves 17 are mounted on the shaft 1 to abut against the bearing cones 11. Each sleeve 7 is provided with an upstanding annular rib 18. lln order to prevent Water and grit from entering into the housing 2 and the shell 4 that carries the bearings, a plurality of perforated disks are provided. Preferably these disks are arranged in groups or sets of three, each set comprising two metal disks secured to an intermediate disk of leather or other yieldable or flexible material, the metals being selected so that two diderent metals will rub against each other, tllus minimizing friction; some sets (indicated generally by the numeral 19 at the right of Fig. 1) being arranged to rotate with the shaft and alternating sets (indicated generally by the numeral 20 at the right of Fig. 1) being fixed in the housing.

In the particular form shown in the drawings, the outermost set com rises two bronze disks 21 and an intermediate leather disk The leather disk 22 is secured to the rib 18 of the sleeve 17 as by a rivet/,23 that eX- tends through the rib and also secures the leather disk 22 of the third set of disks to the other side of the rib. The disks of each set are secured to each other as by countersunk pins 24 or rivets.

An end rino- 25 and a cap 26 are secured to each end of the housing as by bolts.l Interposed between each ring 25 and the end of the housing 2 and between each cap 26 and ring 25 are leather disks 27. On either side of each leather disk 27 are steel disks 28 that are secured thereto as by countersunk rivets or pins 29. Thus, in the embodiment shown ofthe shell that is permitted by the other in the drawings, the two sets of bronze disks 21 with their intermediate leather disks 22 rotate with the sha-ft and the two sets of steel disks 28 with their intermediate leather disks 27 are secured in the housing. Mounted in the end flange. 12 of the shell 4 and in the end ring 13 are springs 30 that bear against the adjacent innermost friction disk (as 28). f

'llhese springs 3() hold the sets of disks 19, 2O in close contact with each other, the leather disks 22, 27 being able to yield as required. Mounted in the end of each cap are a suitable packing 31 and gland 82.

Preferably the housing 2, rings 25 and caps 26 are provided with alining longitudinal passageways 33 for lubricant, the passageways of the cap opening into transverse passageways 34 that open into the end portions of the interior of the housing adjacent to the outer peripheries of the disks that rotate with the shaft. Suitable plugs 35 are provided for Closing the outer openings to these passagewa-ys except when lubricant is to be admitted. The housing 2 and shell 4 may be provided with transverse passageways 36 permitting lubricant to be introduced into the interior of the shell in which the bearings are mounted. j

In the yslightly modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the ends 41 of the shell 4a fit snugly in the ends 42 of the housing 2a, the middle portions being cut away so as to be spaced apart slightly, thus reducing the finishing work required. This construction does not permit the self-alinement construction.

To further assist in keeping water and grit out of the enclosure, thus protecting the disks as well 'as the bearings, Vsome of the disks may be provided with spiral -grooves that tend to force the lubricant through a labyrinthine path, as indicated by a rows in Fig. 3. A certain amount. of oil will creep along the sleeve 17 over the ends of the set of steel disks 28 nearest the bearing 15. The adjacent bronze disk 21 is provided with spiral grooves that tend, to force the oil outwardly. Oil creeping longitudinally of the housingover the ends of' the disks 21, together with oil coming through the lubricant passageways of the housing is then forced inwardly by means of spiral grooves inthe next bronze disk, thence it creeps along the rib 18 and is again forced outwardly by spiral grooves in the next bronze disk and again inwardly by grooves in the outermost bronze disk. Little, if any, oil esc-apes through the packing 31. The above described pumping of oil builds up an oil pressure to prevent ingress of water and it and it lubricates the steel and bronze dis (s, thus prolonging their life. In Fig. 4 are shown Vspiral grooves 51 in the bronze disk nearest the bearing in Fig. 3, said grooves tending to force oil outwardly.

messes In Fig. 5 are shown spiral grooves in the outermost bronze disk tending to force oil slight rocking or other alininG movement.

Obviously numerous changes might be made without departing from` lthe invention and I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

W'hat I claim is.:

1. A construction of the kind described comprising a shaft, a housing therefor, roller bearings forsaid shaft, and a multiplicity of closure rings mounted in each end of the housing, said rings being arranged in sets of three, each set comprising a middle yieldable ring and rings on either side thereof and secured thereto.

2. A construction of the kind described comprising a shaft, a housing therefor, roller bearings for said shaft, and aI multiplicity of closure rings mounted in each end of the housing, said rings being arranged in sets of three, each set comprising a middle yieldable ring and rings on either side thereof and secured thereto and contacting rings of adjacent sets being of different material.

3. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, a shaft in said housing, conical roller bearings for said shaft, yieldable disks mounted to rot-ate with said shaft, bronze disks on each side of each yieldable disk and secured thereto, yieldable disks secured in the housing and steel disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto.

4. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, a shaft in said housing, .conical roller bearings for said shaft, yieldable disks mounted to rotate with said shaft, bronze disks on each side of each yieldable disk and secured thereto, yieldable disks secured to the housing and steel disks on'both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto, the bronze disk in each set that is nearest the bearing being provided with spiral grooves to force oil outwardly and the other bronze disk of each set being provided `with spiral grooves to force oil inwardly.

5. A construction ofthe kind described comprising a housing, a shaft in said housing, a hollow shell in said housing, conical roller bearings interposed between said shell and said shaft, yieldable disks mounted to aeeeeae rotate wit-h said shaft, bronze disks on each side of each yieldable ldisk and secured thereto, yieldable disks secured in the housing, steel disks on both sides of said yieldable 'disks and secured thereto and springs mounted in the end of said shell and pressing against said disks to hold them in engagement with each other. I

(i. A yconstruction of the kind described comprising a housing,a shaft in said housing, a hollow shell in said housing, conical roller bearings interposed between said shell and said shaft, yieldable disks mounted to rotate with said shaft, bronze disks on each side of each yieldable disk and secured thereto, yieldable disks secured in the housing, steel disks on both sides of said yieldable 'disks and secured thereto said housing having lubricant passageways terminating at the outer peripheries of said disks mounted to rotate with said shaft.

7. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, a shaft in said housing, a. hollow shell in said housing, conical roller bearings interposed between said shell and said shaft, yieldable disks mounted to rotate with said shaft, bronze disks on each side of each yieldable disk and secured thereto, yieldable disks secured in the housing, steel disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto said housing and said shell having lubricantpassageways admitting lubricant to the interior of said shell for said bearings.

8. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, a shaft in said housing, a hollow shell in said housing, conical roller bearings interposed between Ysaid shell and sai-d shaft, sleeves on said shaft abutting against the inner bearing members of said bearings, each sleeve being provided with an annular rib, yieldable disks secured to the sides of said ribs, bronze disks on cach side of each yieldable disk and secured thereto, yieldable disks secured between the housing and the end rings and between the end rings and the end caps, st-eel disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto and springs mounted in the ends of said shell and pressing against said disks to hold them in engagement with each other.

9. A construction of ,the kind described comprising a housing, a shaft in said housing, a hollow shell in said housing, conical roller bearings interposed between said shell and said shaft,\sleeves on said shaft,v abutting against the inner bearing members of said bearings, each sleeve being provided with an annular rib, yieldable disks secured to the sides of said ribs, bronze disks on each side of each yieldable disk and secured' thereto,-

yieldable Idisks secured in the housing, steel f disks on both sides of, said yieldable disks said disks to hold them in engagement with each other.

10. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, end rings, end caps, means for securing said housing, rings and caps together, a shaft in said housing, a hollow shell in said housing, conical roller bearings interposed between said shell and said shaft, sleeves on said shaft abutting against the inner bearing members of said bearings, each sleeve being provided with an annular rib, yieldable disks secured to the sides of said ribs, bronze disks on each side of each yieldable disk and secured thereto, yieldable disks secured between the housing and the end rings and between the end rings and the end caps, steel disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and scoured thereto and springs mounted in the ends of said shell and pressing against said disks to hold them in engagement with each other.

lhA construction of the kind described comprising a housing, end rings, end caps` means for securing said housing, rings and caps together, yieldable disks in said housing having their peripheral portions lheld between said housing and said end rings and between said end rings and said caps respectively, metal disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto, a. shaft in said housing, yieldable disks mounted to turn with' said shaft, and disks of different met-al from said above mentioned metal disks secured to both sides of said yieldable disks.

l2. A construction of the kind described comprising al housing, end rings, end caps, means for securing said housing, rings and caps together, yieldable disks in said housing having their' peripheual portions held between said housing and said endrings and between said end rings and said caps respectively, meta-l disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto, a shaft in said housing, yieldable disks mounted to turn with said shaft, disks of different metal from said above mentioned metal disks secured to bo-th sides of said yieldable disks and springs pressing against the endmost disk.

13. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, end rings, end caps, means `for securing said housing, rings and caps together, yieldab-le disks in said housing loo bothsides of said yieldable disks, said housr lie comprising a housing, end rings, end caps, means for securing said housing, rings and caps together, yieldable disks in said housing having their peripheral portions held' between said housing and said end rings and between said end rings and said caps respectively, steel disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto, a shaft in said housing, yieldable disks mounted to turn with said shaft, and bronze disks secured to both sides ot said yieldable disks.

l5. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, end rings, end caps, means for securing said housing,\rings and caps together, yieldable disks in said housing having their peripheral portions held between said housing and said end rings and between said end rings and said caps respectively, steel disks on both sides of said yieldable disks and secured thereto, a shaft in said housing, yieldable disks mounted to turn with said shatt,

bronze disks secured to both sides ot said yieldable disks and springs pressing against the endmost disk.

16. ifi construction of the kind described comprising a housing, a hollow shell in said housing, said shell having an enlarged middie portion convexlv curved endwise of the shell to permit the shell to rock in said housing, one end o't the interior oi thehousing having a reduced inside diameter, a washer in the other end of said housing iitting around the end portion of said shell, said shell being provided with a recess, a. bolt of smaller diameter than said recess secured in said housing and extending into said recess, a. shaft extending through said shell and housing, said shaft having a reduced portion, a split collar mounted on said reduced portion of said shaft, bearing cones on said shaft abutting against said collar, bearing cups mount-v ed in the ends ot said shell, bearing rollers interposed between said cups and cones, sleeves on said shaft abutting against said bearing cones, and a plurality of disks in the space between said sleeve and said housing.

17. A construction oi' thekind described comprising a housing, a hollow shell in said housing, said shell having an enlarged middle portion convexly curved endwise of the shell to permit the shell to rock in said housing, one end of the interior of the housing having a `reduced inside diameter, a washerl in the other end of said housing fitting around the end portion ot said shell, said shell heilig provided with a recess, a bolt of smaller diameter than said recess secured in said housing' and extending into said recess, a. shatt extending through said sh ell and housing, said shaft having a reduced portion, a split collar mounted on said reduced portion of said shaft, bearing cones on said shaft abutting against said collar, bearing cups mounted in the ends of said shell, bearing rollers interposed between said cups and cones, sleeves on igeeaeas said shaft abutting against said bearing cones, a plurality of disks in the space between said sleeve and said housing and springs in the ends of said shell pressing against the adjacent disk.

' i8. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, a hollow.V shell in said housing, said shell having an enlarged middle portion, one end of the interior of the housing having a reduced inside diameter, a washer in the other end of ,sa'id housing litting around the end portion 'of said shell, said shell being provided witlia recess, a bolt of smaller diameter than said recess secured in said housing and extending into said recess, a shaft extending through said shell and housing, said sha-ft having a reduced portion, a split collar mounted on said reduced portion of said shaft, bearing cones on said shat't abutting against said colla-r, bearing cups mounted in the ends of said shell, bearing rollers interposed between said cups and cones, sleeves on said shaft abutting against said bearing cones, a plurality of disks in the space between said sleeve and said housing, and springs in the ends of said shell pressing against the adjacent disk.

i9. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, end rings, end caps, means for securing said housing, rings and caps together, a hollow shell in said housing, said shell having a raised middle portion con- Vexlv curved endwise of the shell to permit the shell to rock in said housing, one end ot the interior of the housing having a reduced inside diameter, a washer in the other end of said housing iitting around the shell, said shell being provided with al recess, a bolt ot smaller' diameter than said recess secured in said housing and extending into said recess, a shaft extending through said shell and housing, said shaft having a reduced portion, a split collar mountedon said reduced portion of said shaft, bearing cones on said shaft abutting against said collar, bearing cups mounted in the ends of said shell, bearing rollers interposed between said cups and cones, sleeves on said shaft abutting against said bearing cones, a plurality of disks in the space between said sleeve and said housing and springs in the ends of said shell pressing against the adjacentdisk.

20. A construction of the kind described comprising a housing, end rings, end caps, means for securing said housing, rings and 'caps together, a hollow shell in said housing, said shell having a raised middle portion convexly curved endwise of the shell to permit the shell to rock in said housing, one end of the interior of the housing having'a reduced inside diameter. a washer in the othr end of said housing fitting around the shell, said shell being provided with a recess, a bolt of smaller diameter than said recess secured in said housing and extending into said ress,

a shaft extending through said shell and housing, said' shaft having a reduced portion, a split collar mounted on said reduced portion of said shaft, bearing cones on said shaft abutting against said collar, bearing cups "mounted in the ends of said shell, bearing springs in the ends of said shell disk and metal disks secured to both sides thereof, some of said sets being fixed in said housing and alternate sets being xed to said 1 sleeves and contacting disks beingof different metals, said housing being provided With lubricant passageways terminating adjacent to the disks that rotate With said shaft, and

against the adjacent disk.

Signed at Milwaukee, `Wisconsin, this 3rd day of September, 1927.

' f GEORGE W. CURTS,

pressing 20 y 

